715.1715/367: Telegram

The Minister in Nicaragua (Hanna) to the Secretary of State

70. Department’s instruction No. 16, May 2185 concerning the reopening of negotiations, the Nicaragua-Honduras boundary matter. When I called upon President Moncada yesterday to keep him informed of developments in connection with recent incidents on the border which have provoked protest from the Government of Honduras, I asked him what would be the effect on the existing situation if negotiations in the boundary dispute should be reopened. He replied that he is convinced that the creation of a boundary commission as heretofore proposed is the best if not the only way by which a permanent solution of the difficulty along the frontier including the suppression of banditry can be attained. He said he has been of this opinion all along and that he is more convinced than ever that negotiations should be reopened as soon as possible. He said I might so inform you if I cared to do so and that he is prepared to carry out his part of whatever program may be decided upon.

[Page 364]

I was guarded in my comment on his views and told him it was a matter I wanted to consider maturely. I am, however, in full accord with his views and think there should be no delay in reopening negotiations if the Government of Honduras sees the matter in the same light. I believe that if a commission is created and sent to the border both Governments will be under obligations to afford it protection and that military cooperation between the forces of the two countries will thus be automatically insured. I am convinced that the Government will reply in a friendly and conciliatory tone to the recent protests of the Government of Honduras and it seems probable that the friendly atmosphere which should exist if negotiations are reopened can be created.

In view of the fact that the recent incidents involving charges that the guardia has entered Honduranean territory occurred along the portion of the frontier not embraced in the award of the King of Spain, it may be desirable in the course of the prospective negotiations to discuss broadening the terms of the protocol and the duties of the commission to include re-marking the boundary to the west of the Pass of Teotecacinte. Moreover, if this is not done, a new controversy is liable to arise in the future with respect to this portion of the boundary.

I am repeating this to Tegucigalpa and will await the Department’s further instructions.

Hanna
  1. See footnote 84, p. 361.